LAST MINUTE TAKES

January 15th, 2011 Saturday

Last Minute Takes

Seahawks-Bears Matchup

This matchup could simply come down to one thing; which team can run the ball. The Bears have been playing exceptionally well this season, especially since the team has found more of a balanced attack.

Running back Matt Forte will be a huge factor in the Bears success today, something that he wasn’t in the first matchup since the team decided to settle with the pass (45 pass plays, 14 run plays). In today’s contest, the number of carries Forte sees will be direct portion to how successful the Bears will be; the more he runs, the better Chicago does.

On the other side, it will be paramount that running back MArshawn Lynch and Seahawks sustain some kind of run game today.; even if they can’t gobble up huge yards, as long as the Seahawks can stay away from obvious passing situations quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and the passing game can have success. The Bears don’t have a formidable four man rush and will have to blitz to get pressure. It will be a daunting task for Lynch and company to grind out some effective yards today; Bears finished the season ranked second against the run.

The Seahawks have had a nice run, but in the windy city their hopes and dreams of reaching the NFC Championship may just get blown away by a Bears teams looking to take their next step to greater heights.

My pick; Bears


Jets-Patriots Matchup

I must admit that I love head coach Rex Ryan’s cavalier attitude and swagger, but unfortunately he can’t use it on the field today. He’s going up against one of the best masterminds on the gridiron today. Ryan and company have been here before, but they have never met an opponent on such a roll as the one the Patriots are on.

During their eight game winning streak the Patriots scored more than 30 points in all eight. The more impressive stat about the Patrtiots winning streak is their lists of opponents that they rolled through on the way to winning eight; Steelers, Colts, Jets, Bears, and Packers.

Quarterback Tom Brady has been scintillating this season and near perfect with 36 passing touchdowns, just four interceptions, and a passer rating of 111.0. The Patriots (14-2) have looked unstoppable at times and near perfect this season. If the Jets are going to hope for the near impossible, it will take a colossal effort; the Jets will need to be perfect today.

This matchup may look one sided on paper and after all the hype, but the one thing to remember, the Jets have beaten the Patriots this season; they will need to play even better today than they did in week 2 to come out with a win in Foxboro today.

My Pick; Patriots

Just my take.

By David Ortega

FRIDAY FOOTBALL FIXX

January 14th, 2011 Friday

Friday’s Football Fixx

Seahawks Are Not Down and Far From Out
Sure it’s easy to say a 7-9 team hardly deserves a spot in the playoffs, but don’t think for a minute that’s going to stop the Seahawks from trying to complete the unthinkable. For quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and company the task it monumental, but considering where they are at the moment, it is far from impossible. Step one was completed last week when the Seahawk’s offense blew up for 41 points and knocked of the defending champions (Saints). This week is likely going to take a completely different type of effort; similar to the one they completed some three months ago back in week 6 against these same Chicago Bears. When the Seahawks get set to take the field on Sunday there is no one in this world that can tell them that they can’t go into Soldier Field, stuff the run, pressure quarterback Jay Cutler, and beat the Bears; they have already done that. It’s definitely easier said than done, and even more difficult to do it twice, but there’s no reason to think this upstart bunch from the Northwest won’t come ready on Sunday and believe they can take a second step closer to the ultimate dream of reaching the Super Bowl.

Packers Riding A Feverish Pitch
Just about a month ago it looked very bleak for Head Coach Mike McCarthy and his Packers; after consecutive losses to the Lions and Patriots in week 14 & 15 dropped the team to 8-6 and pushed their backs to the wall. With his quarterback Aaron Rodgers sidelined after suffering from a concussion against the Lions, their post season hopes were very much in doubt. That was about four weeks ago and since, Rodgers has returned to the lineup and led the Packers to three straight wins, including the two over the Giants and Bears needed to make the playoffs. Last week’s win over the Eagles made it very evident how dangerous this team really is; Rodgers finished the season 7th in passing yards (3,922) and his 28 touchdowns were tied for 6th in the league, with a reborn running game that carved out 138 yards on the ground last Sunday they look even more dangerous. The Packers were a pre-season favorite to win their division and go deep in the playoffs. They didn’t win the North (finished second), but they are in the playoffs and look primed to make their run. With a revamped run game, a tenacious defense, Rodgers and company look ready to storm the Georgia Dome and turn the lights out.

Steelers And Ravens Set For Clash of the Titans III
The battles are never pretty and there is never any love lost; for the third time this season the Steelers (ranked number one against the run) and Ravens (defense is ranked 3rd in points allowed; 16.9 per game) will take the field in a quest for gridiron supremacy. The last time these two teams met in the post season, it was quarterback Joe Flacco’s rookie season and the game was one he would like never to remember. Dick LeBeau’s (Steelers DC) defense did a number on Flacco, sacking him three times and forcing three interceptions. Flacco will certainly be hoping for different results this third time around; this being his third season in the league he has grown and should lots of maturity. In his two matchups this season with the Steelers Flacco has completed 41 passes of 70 throws (59%) and tossed two touchdowns with a pick. In the first meeting he was just sacked once, but in their last tilt the Steelers dumped Flacco four times. This matchup promises to be a heavyweight showdown of two terrific defenses (Steelers and Ravens), but if the Ravens have any hopes of survival at Heinz Field on Saturday, they must keep Flacco upright.

Injury News and Updates

The Ravens are getting ready for their big matchup with the Steelers on Saturday, but could have a less than 100 percent Ray Rice. The Ravens running back was seen vomiting at the team’s hotel in Pittsburgh Friday. There’s been no clear updates regarding his status and he was not on the injury report, but it’s still worth keeping an eye on.

The Patriot’s wide receiver Deion Branch (knee) was listed as questionable for the Divisional Round, but that sounds more like Bill Belichick being himself and keeping everyone in the dark. The local media has not given any indication that there’s any reason for concern. Branch has had two weeks to rest and should be ready for Sunday.

According to rookie tight end Aaron Hernandez, he says he ready to play Sunday. Hernandez has been out for the past three weeks with a hip injury, but it sounds like there’s no reason to believe he won’t play. He has played very well against the Jets this season and figures to be a key part of the Patriots passing attack Sunday.

The Seahawks could be without their middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu (concussion) on Sunday as he has yet to be medically cleared to play. With the early game on Sunday his window of opportunity is closing fast and his availability is very much in doubt at this point. His absence in the middle would be a huge loss in the run game for the Seahawks; Tatupu finished second on the team with 88 total tackles.

Just my views.

By David Ortega

KEYS 2 SUNDAY

January 2nd, 2010, Sunday

Keys 2 Sunday

Week 17 Previews & Picks
(just a few)

Chicago Bears @ Green Bay Packers
….the Packers know what is at stake today and more importantly so does quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Green Bay needs to win and they are in the 2010 Post-season; it’s that simple. You can draw up all the “X’s” and “O’” you want, but this matchup today at Lambeau will come down to one thing’ how well Rodgers plays. He is the biggest and only key for the Packers today. The Bears will present a lot of problems for Rodgers defensively today, but if he can find time in the pocket and is accurate with his throws he could get the offense rolling fast. Last week faced with a very aggressive and effective pass rush (Giants), Rodgers was able to get rid of the ball quickly and on time to his receivers; last week he passed for 404 yards and four touchdowns.
(My Pick; Packers 24, Bears 17)

Oakland Raiders @ Kansas City Chiefs
….in their first meeting this season Kansas City was not able to get the ground game rolling; as it has been all season the duo of Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones will be key for the Chiefs today at Arrowhead. Quarterback Matt Cassel (27 touchdowns this season) is still going to need to make some throws and he will be looking for his favorite target wide receiver Dwayne Bowe (67 receptions,15 touchdowns) in critical third down situations, but the fate of this matchup will surely rely heavily on the legs of the Chiefs running backs. Charles (1,835 total yards of offense) figures to play significantly in the Chiefs ground attack; limited to just 53 yards in their first matchup he will certainly see plenty of touches today on the ground and in the air.
(My Pick; Chiefs 27, Raider 17)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ New Orleans Saints
….if you are a betting person, don’t wager against Drew Brees today. The Saints still have an outside shot at accomplishing all of their preseason goals, division title, return to post-season, and number one seed. With so much still at stake, it’s an easy guess that the Saints will leave everything in the hands and on the arm of Brees. In their first matchup this season the Saints signal caller was golden passing for 263 yards and tossing three touchdowns en route to a 31-6 win. In the comforts of the Superdome today Brees will be looking to do much of the same; in his last three starts at home Brees is averaging 300 yards passing and has nine touchdowns.
(My Pick; Saints 28, Bucs 17)

St. Louis Rams @ Seattle Seahawks
….the Rams find themselves in unfamiliar territory today, one might wonder if they will be up to the challenge; regardless the key for them today will be their defense. Quarterback Sam Bradford and running back Steven Jackson will anchor the offense, but they are going to need lots of help from their young defense; in particular the pass rush. With a shaking Matt Hasselbeck (hip, questionable) expected to be under center the Rams defense will need to bring a lot of heat to disrupt the offense. Hasselbeck is not very mobile and could get rattled in the pocket if the Rams 21st ranked pass defense can get pressure. The Rams rank 4th in the league with 43 sacks and it could just come down to how effective they are at shutting down the Seahawks pass game that determines this outcome and the division winner of the NFC West.
(My Pick; Rams 21, Seahawks 14)

By David Ortega